Star Wars: The Hidden Empire

Chapter Two ~ Empire's Fall

"Zarbia, we're to be stationed at the Zarbia system. Helm, plot a course." She addressed the ship's pilots who immediately complied. The captain stood before her, his gaze riddled with confusion.

"Orders from the emperor himself. He wants us on standby, 'case the upcoming battle goes awry. He believes the rebels will soon launch an attack." She sighed before speaking again. "His Majesty wants me to relay his orders to the admirals under mah command, he wants the whole fleet to protect his flank."

"The whole fleet? Grand Admiral, you oversee every ship that patrols the 200 sectors you were granted governance of! I can't even guess how many ships that would consist of if the fleets combined." The captain, Victor Moars, made his view clear, "How big is this battle?"

"If the Empire is victorious, this battle would mark the end of the rebellion. So, big enough ah guess. But I ain't gonna call the entire fleet, regardless of the specifications of the order. That amount of ships in a single sector would be tactically unwise not ta mention disastrous. I'll call in Fleet Admiral Rez's personal squadron to join us at Zarbia and leave it at that. If somethin' does go wrong, the Emperor and the Imperial Fleet will still have an extra 64 warships and an additional Executor to back 'em up." The captain nodded.

"What ah don't understand is why he doesn't want us ta just join the fray, and skip Zarbia entirely. The battle station is absolutely massive and still undergoing construction. Operational or not, it's vulnerable. There's plenty of room for three large fleets to be stationed there. Death squadron, Rez's and mah fleets combined, we could guard it from all sides."

"A trap perhaps. Make the target seem weak and reel the rebels in for the kill."

"A fine proposition, Capt'n, but ah think it's just plain arrogance. No trap is worth the Emperor's life. It was overconfidence that destroyed the first death star, and ah swear if the same miscalculation costs us the emperor . . . the whole bloody Empire will be forfeit." Her last words were sombre.

"Inform Admiral Rez of the emperor's plan and the assigned coordinates. Admiral Dean shall assume command of the unknown regions whilst we're gone."

"Aye ma'am."

~ The Zarbia system – Enemy's Lament ~

Two weeks had passed since she had been contacted by the emperor. Mere minutes ago, Serila and her second in command, Jason Rez had taken their new posts above the planet Zarbia, a single jump point from Endor. 64 warships waited in total, above the lifeless planet. All of which awaiting the orders of one single man. Their unknowingly doomed emperor.

"What is it we do know Grand Admiral?"

"Those were our only orders, Capt'n. To merge the fleets at this point. Inform Admiral Rez," she addressed the communications team below her, "No one is to leave unless Palpatine orders us otherwise." Her words were harsh, indicating her frustration, "Ahm still not happy with the emperor's idea of usin' himself as the bait for his trap. Ah gotta bad feelin' about this."

"I think we all agree, Grand Admiral." The sense of foreboding served little to ease her conscience. Even after a fortnight of thought.

~ Days later ~

Ever since they arrived at the dead world their channels had remained as silent as the planet that rested beneath them. Other than the casual reports the ships composing their fleet sent in, they had received no contact whatsoever from beyond their system. As if the galaxy had ceased to exist.

Then they felt it. A tremor lingering deep within their very beings. Distorting their senses in a crescendo of screams and pleas for help. The casual ambiance of the ship seemingly slipped from their ears, slowly fading into an eerie nothingness.